Anyone have anything to say about the revamped VIP pregame reception this year? I really liked the VIP tent setup we had last year (espeically on the hot afternoon games) but I was looking forward to the Samba Room party too. I think they've got some kinks to work out. The line moved way to slow and the buffet was pretty meager when I was there. The seating also needs to be addressed as it was fairly minimal and the buffet line interferes with much of it. Perhaps they weren't expecting us all to turn up the first week to check it out but it was chaotic.
VIPs get a BUFFET? Heck, we'd be happy with table scraps in section 8. Even a slow line to get table scraps would be ok. The lines for the pay food were outrageous.
Don't be swayed by all the glitz and glamour. I can guarantee you had a lot more fun at the Barn Burners tailgate. Not that I don't appreciate the VIP thing cause I do, it's just a different crowd is all.
We went to the samba room for the vip party but ended up just sitting at a table and ordering dinner off the menu. There wasn't much selection at the free buffet. I guess if it's free you shouldn't really complain. I'm actually not a fan of cuban food although the wife and her girlfriends like it more than I do.There wasn't much room to sit or stand if you stayed in the "tailgate area". I don't know why they couldn't have players who are not dressing for the game there. Wilt and nowak tried to make it but with everyone stopping nowak for autographs on the way, they didn't. Since I'm not big on cuban food I don't know if I will bother to come back. I noticed in the stadium plaza that the lines for food and drink were longer than usual. The nice thing about the vip area when they had it at Soldier field was they would have guest speakers.
I have no only one complaint about the VIP area at the bar of Samba Room - it is too small. I grabbed on of the few chairs that was available. It was near the buffet and I can tell you that Samba Room kept refilling the buffet with a wide variety of delicious Cuban snacks. If you're not into spicy food and citrus flavors, then I guess you were SOL, but I had zero complaints except the small space we had which got crowded really quickly. The food was varied and excellent, IMO. I have noticed that the VIP area used to get regular guest speakers and off-duty players when it was at Soldier Field and this kind of thing has tailed off since the 2000 season. In 2001, I put this down to Peter Wilt correctly focusing more on finding us a home than on finding guests for the VIP area. I didn't have VIP tix last year so I can't say anything about the VIP tent.